Nick 13 Sparks Up Another Year of October Flame, This Time in Pomona

Octoberflame is a tradition that Tiger Army has kept going since the late '00s. Now in its fifth year, this spooky, psychobilly tradition started because they wanted to give the SoCal psychobilly scene the same kind of Halloween spirit that they had in their Berkeley stomping grounds up north. "I liked going to those shows so much when I was growing up," says frontman Nick 13. "When we first started Octoberflame, it was the end of our cycle of touring for our last record that took us all over the world. We wanted to do something really big to go out with a bang before we took some time off." Although they aren't playing in OC this year, it isn't because they have lost their love for our fair county but because they wanted to try something different. This year, the party screams into the Fox Theater in Pomona. That isn't the only change that they have implemented this year--they've also expanded this fine traditional show to Northern California and Arizona.

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As always, this year's Octoberflame comes with a new logo, created by the fans every year since the last glory days of MySpace. Since the band has not been touring as much lately with Nick 13 working on his solo album, it is a big deal for the fans to come out dressed up in their customary pin-up girl styles and Day of the Dead make-up and skeleton gear.

This time of year is special to raven-haired frontman, you might even call it spiritual. Although he has never seen a ghost, he says, "I feel like I have felt things beyond the world we can't see with our own eyes." It is nice to talk to someone who not only appreciates the holiday for its creepiness, but Nick 13 has a deep understanding and knowledge about the origins of where it comes from and how it reflects how our modern culture.

It isn't just about the origins of the holiday that get him prepared for the month. Much like the rest of us preparing for a huge event at the end of the month, Nick 13 picks a genre of movies to watch. Lately, that includes 1940s Val Lewton RKO films which back in those days were a big horror film distributors. "It's kind of a fun way of getting into the spirit of the season," he says. "I can tailor it how I feel sometimes like it might more like 1950's drive-in style horror films."